Winnipesaukee Forum - View Single Post - House Votes To Raise Mandatory Life Jacket Age

Misty Blue · 04-13-2007, 02:44 PM

I spend a lot of time with the boating public and I think that it is nutz that we can argue about speed limits and if we should have a law banning certain water toys and ignore the fact that NH is the only state, around here anyway, that can let a six year old go out without a PFD on. That said...

Moms and DADs PLEASE listen. All of the requirements for children to wear PFD apply only when the vessel is UNDERWAY. This is defined as when the vessel is not anchored(moored), docked or aground. The problem is that kids don't drown on vessels that are underway. They drown at the dock, at the beach, at the river and in the pool.

Please, until they are very good swimmers, keep the kids in PFDs any time they are near the water and not being well supervised.

As for inflatable PFDs. These ar Type Vs. I believe that the law requires that a type I, II or III PFD be worn while riding on a Jet-Ski. The type V may not fit the bill.

As for auto inflating type Vs, I never work underway without a type V on. Which is why I don't use an auto inflator. While I can imagine a situation where I am unconcious when I hit the drink I don't think that it is likely. What does happen often is that I enter the water on purpose for work or play and the manual inflator ("Just pull the string") gives me the option to wear the PFD without popping the $20 auto inflator.

For example. I wear my type V when I am sailing the sunfish. I would not if I had to worry about it going off every time that I dumped it.

Misty Blue.

04-13-2007, 02:44 PM	#57
Misty Blue Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 658 Thanks: 121 Thanked 283 Times in 98 Posts	Kids and PFDs I spend a lot of time with the boating public and I think that it is nutz that we can argue about speed limits and if we should have a law banning certain water toys and ignore the fact that NH is the only state, around here anyway, that can let a six year old go out without a PFD on. That said... Moms and DADs PLEASE listen. All of the requirements for children to wear PFD apply only when the vessel is UNDERWAY. This is defined as when the vessel is not anchored(moored), docked or aground. The problem is that kids don't drown on vessels that are underway. They drown at the dock, at the beach, at the river and in the pool. Please, until they are very good swimmers, keep the kids in PFDs any time they are near the water and not being well supervised. As for inflatable PFDs. These ar Type Vs. I believe that the law requires that a type I, II or III PFD be worn while riding on a Jet-Ski. The type V may not fit the bill. As for auto inflating type Vs, I never work underway without a type V on. Which is why I don't use an auto inflator. While I can imagine a situation where I am unconcious when I hit the drink I don't think that it is likely. What does happen often is that I enter the water on purpose for work or play and the manual inflator ("Just pull the string") gives me the option to wear the PFD without popping the $20 auto inflator. For example. I wear my type V when I am sailing the sunfish. I would not if I had to worry about it going off every time that I dumped it. Misty Blue.